Chessify Weekly Digest #1 - Firouzja Jumps into Space!
Late summer and early autumn often mark the beginning of a new season, and almost always bring about changes. The same goes for Chessify! We’re excited to announce the launch of regular blogs on our platform. What will they cover? A wide range of topics. From stories about chess stars – both the luminaries of today and the legends of a century or two ago – to specialized topics like how computers have transformed the chess world. We’ll dive into the people and programs that have shaped the new reality and, ultimately, led to the creation of Chessify. Naturally, we'll also focus on the platform itself, exploring it from various angles, whether you're a professional or a casual chess enthusiast, because everyone has their own approach, needs, and preferences. You’re in for a lot of fascinating and enlightening content!
And every Monday, you can look forward to a weekly digest of events from the past week, along with previews of the upcoming week. No, Chessify isn’t turning into a news portal, but a large project like ours can't exist completely detached from the events happening in the chess world every day. Our weekly summaries will keep you informed about all the key happenings – concise, clear, and above all, engaging, featuring all the major players.
So, let's begin! Welcome to the pilot edition of the Chessify Digest!
Event of the Week
The second half of August delivered a treasure trove of notable tournaments: the FIDE Women's Grand Prix, the 60th Rubinstein Memorial, the Russian Championship Superfinal, a major open in Abu Dhabi, two matches from the indefatigable Niemann, and more. But perhaps the most exciting action is unfolding right now in St. Louis. The Sinquefield Cup has brought together six of the world’s top 10 players, including future World Championship contenders Ding Liren and Carlsen, as well as Caruana and Firouzja, who are locked in a fierce battle for the 2024 Grand Chess Tour title.
Photo by © Lennart Ootes, grandchesstour.org
Both Caruana and Firouzja are in outstanding form, fighting tooth and nail against each other. Just a month ago, after Fabi’s successes in Romania and Croatia, it seemed that the race was over, and the title would be easily secured in St. Louis. But then, Alireza had his say. His victories in the rapid and blitz events, combined with an unexpected stumble from his rival, catapulted him to the top of the leaderboard. Now, Caruana not only needs to win the Sinquefield Cup but also hopes for a bit of luck, as Firouzja must finish below second place. After their first-round clash, where a winning position slipped from Caruana’s grasp, it seemed his plans were in ruins. But undeterred, he started playing for a win with both colors, and by the 6th round, he was almost neck and neck with his rival (Firouzja also didn’t sit idle, securing his second win against Giri). For Caruana’s chase to succeed, he needs to win at least twice in the remaining three rounds, where he’ll face Gukesh, Praggnanandhaa, and Giri. He’ll also be hoping for Firouzja to slip up and for So to step up.
Hero of the Week
One might be tempted to give this title to Alireza Firouzja or even to Germany's Vincent Keymer, who delivered a stellar performance at the Rubinstein Memorial, starting with 4/4 and securing the tournament victory with 5.5/6, only to stumble in the final rounds, scoring just 0.5/3. However, the real hero of the week is Hans Niemann. The relentless American, on a global tour of sorts – because what else can you do when you've earned such a toxic reputation that no serious tournaments will invite you – has been staging mini-matches against elite players who are either nearing the end of their careers or already past their prime. Early August saw him face Anish Giri, followed by Nikita Vitiugov and Etienne Bacrot.
Niemann emerged victorious in all three challenges. While the first two matches were closely contested – he won the classical games by only a slim margin (+2–1=3 against Giri and +1–0=5 against Vitiugov) – Bacrot struggled to keep up with the 21-year-old nihilist, crumbling with a score of +3–0=3. In the faster time controls, it was nothing short of a massacre, with the final score against the 41-year-old Frenchman standing at 27-12. Was this effort worth it?
Photo by © Frans Peeters, en.chessbase.com
One might think Niemann is working hard on his public image, but it’s more evident that he's focused on boosting his rating. For a long time, he struggled to break through the 2700 barrier, but now, after gaining 22 points in 18 games, the American has firmly established himself at 2733, securing 16th place in the world rankings, just two spots behind Ding Liren.
Naturally, Niemann is being asked whether he plans to change course and challenge one of the active elite players. He nods and promises to organize a match against someone from the world’s top 5. For now, though, he has canceled (or postponed?) his match against India's Nihal Sarin (2668, 59th in the world) to focus on preparing for an online showdown against Magnus Carlsen in the upcoming Speed Chess Championship.
Unsung Hero
To find him, one should probably look to Barnaul, where the battle for the Russian Championship title is underway. Although the tournament has lost some of its luster after more than 40 grandmasters left the country, it's still hard to call it weak with players like Grischuk, Dubov, Artemiev, Esipenko, and others in the mix. And leading this impressive lineup after the 5th round is 21-year-old Nesterov! Two years ago, this confident young man from Novgorod already tested himself among the elite – back then, he scored "-4" after five games. Now, he's at "+2" and has no intention of letting go of his hard-earned position, carefully eyeing new opportunities where they arise.
Photo by © Vladimir Barsky, ruschess.ru
In over 20 years of Russian Superfinals history, there have been several unexpected champions, like Lysyj or Riazantsev, but never before has the title been claimed by someone so young and previously untitled in adult chess (although he has plenty of titles in youth categories). Yes, the championship is still far from decided – there are four rounds left, and in the case of a tie (Nesterov currently shares the lead with Nayer and Esipenko), a tiebreak will be required. However, the mere fact that young players in Russia are now emerging as serious contenders for the national title (even Murzin, widely regarded as the top junior in the country, has never come close to this) indicates that the stagnation of recent years, if not decades, is gradually being overcome. Who knows, after the sanctions on chess players from the former hegemonic country are lifted, this trend may continue. For now, let's keep our fingers crossed for Nesterov – his victory could truly be a turning point in the local chess scene.
Blunder of the Week
This week's blunder goes to the "rematch" between Vladimir Kramnik and José Martínez Alcántara. Just over a month ago, they faced off in Barcelona, with the primary goal of exposing the Peruvian player, whom Kramnik accused of cheating. The former world champion, who has taken on the mantle of a crusader against online chess cheats using computer assistance, saw this face-to-face encounter – where the players alternated between computer and live board games – as a way to prove his point. If José faltered, it would confirm the suspicions. If he maintained his usual level of play against Vladimir, he would be deemed "clean."
Unfortunately, that encounter sparked so many scandals and memes unrelated to the actual "experiment" (at one point, Kramnik even demanded an official FBI investigation into Chess.com) that the original goal was sidelined. The games themselves revealed little beyond the fact that the former world champion still excels in the opening, while his opponent is skilled at wriggling out of difficult positions – but not at the extraordinary level he displays during Titled Tuesday. José’s performance might be understandable, though not excusable: it’s one thing to play relaxed at home, in your chair, with a cup of tea in hand, and quite another to compete on stage, under bright lights, with every move scrutinized.
Photo by © Antony Jones, worldchess.com
The rematch took place in a different city (London), on a different online platform (FIDE Arena), and under somber circumstances – just a week before, Alcántara's mother passed away. But the storyline wasn’t much different from their previous match – Kramnik’s dominance early on, followed by Jospem's miraculous saves in the endgames (in one game, Kramnik even managed to lose with an extra queen). José again led at various points in the match (perhaps aided by his preparation, possibly using Chessify!), but this time he crumbled on the third day. He started with a +1, but soon found himself at -4. Whether it was fatigue or the weight of external pressures – Alcántara had never faced such moral responsibility before – he played like an average grandmaster, nothing more. The most surprising part was that, despite being out of chances for a draw, Jospem nearly forced a tiebreak, winning three games in a row and standing better in the final one – but nerves got the better of him, and he lost. The final score: 19-17 in Kramnik's favor.
The overall result of the two matches is a 1-1 draw. And still, no answers to the main question: Alcántara is no genius on par with Firouzja or Gukesh, but to defeat today’s Kramnik online, unfortunately, that’s not necessary. The tragic irony of the situation that Kramnik has created is that no one seems to care anymore! Or more precisely, no one is interested in the evidence he's provided. Vladimir is rapidly losing the gravitas and flawless reputation he built over decades… A little more of this, and he risks being seen as an eccentric, whose opinions are increasingly marginalized and dismissed. That would be a sad end to the experiment.
Quote of the Week
It's no surprise that this section features a quote from Hans Niemann. His penchant for maximum, even excessive, publicity has become a hallmark of the American chess player. Ahead of his much-anticipated match in Paris against Magnus Carlsen, Hans seized the opportunity to seek some sponsorship. He posted the following message on social media:
"I'm currently looking for sponsors for my upcoming match against Magnus in September. If you’re interested or know someone who might be, feel free to reach out to me via direct messages..."
Whether anyone responded to Hans' call remains to be seen. The Carlsen-Niemann match is set for September 6.
Photo by Amit Kamath, indianexpress.com
What's Happening Online?
For now, things are relatively quiet. With so many major tournaments and top players occupied, the only consistent online events are the weekly Titled Tuesdays. Last week’s winners were Latasa in the early edition (9.5/11) and Carlsen in the late edition (9.5/11). Interestingly, Shong finished second in both, with 9 and 9.5 points out of 11, respectively.
The spotlight is now on the final matches of the Speed Chess Championship in Paris on September 6-7, followed by the last Champions Chess Tour event after the Olympiad, scheduled to take place in Budapest from September 10 to 23.
Rating Milestones
The battle for the top rating spot has been primarily between Keymer and Niemann. Keymer dominated the field at the Polanica-Zdrój tournament, gaining 18 rating points after his first four games and 21.8 after six. Unfortunately, he lost 11.1 points in his last three games, ending with a net gain of +10.7. A draw against Duda would have seen him surpass Hans. Meanwhile, Niemann’s +12 points against Bacrot secured his top spot. Firouzja is third, with two wins at the Sinquefield Cup earning him 10.5 points, bringing his rating to 2762.
Photo by © Marcus Brandt, www.spiegel.de
The biggest rating loss, despite not losing a single game, belongs to Dubov. Eight draws in Barnaul cost him 11.8 points. Following him is Grischuk, who lost 10.2 points and, for the first time since 2001, fell below the 2700 rating mark – a sad outcome in a year where he has been steadily losing ground. If we consider the entire month of August, Giri fared the worst, with a loss of 17.3 points, 9.3 of which came from the past week in St. Louis.
Beyond the Chessboard
Right now, the entire chess world is holding its breath in anticipation: just two weeks remain until the biggest event of the year, the Chess Olympiad. In recent years, the chess "world map" has been completely redrawn – former leaders have been dethroned (with some even sidelined entirely), while new contenders have yet to fully establish themselves. The surprise effect that crowned Uzbekistan as Olympic champions and India as the most vibrant country in terms of chess talent will not be as prominent this time. The full-strength teams from the U.S. and China will return, offering a clearer picture of the global chess landscape. Who will emerge as the front-runner? At this point, no one can say for sure…